A pair of sliding components having sliding faces (S) that slide with respect to each other includes: fluid introduction portions (22) having opening portions (22a) at a predetermined circumferential interval (Y) on a peripheral surface on a high pressure fluid side of the sliding face (S), the fluid introduction portions extending in a radial direction; and Rayleigh step mechanisms including extremely shallow grooves (11) that communicate with the fluid introduction portions (22) and extend in a circumferential direction, wherein circumferential width (X) of the opening portions (22a) is larger than radial width (Z) of the fluid introduction portions (22). In the sliding components, a temperature can be lowered by reducing a friction loss of the sliding faces and improving a cooling performance even when the sliding components are used at high speed.

A planetary variator applicable in a variable transmission for realizing a variable speed and torque ratio includes: a ring wheel; at least two planet wheels, the at least two planet wheels including a shaft portion and a wheel portion that is rotatable about the shaft portion, the shaft portion having a longitudinal central axis, the longitudinal central axis also being the rotation axis of the wheel portion, each planet wheel being freely rotatable about a hinge axis that is oriented essentially perpendicularly with respect to a plane defined by the common central axis and the rotation axis of the wheel portion of the planet wheel; and a sun wheel. The ring wheel and the sun wheel are axisymmetric bodies positioned with respect to a common central symmetry axis. Interaction between the ring wheel, the at least two planet wheels, and the sun wheel takes place through a rolling motion.

A planetary variator applicable in a variable transmission for realizing a variable speed and torque ratio includes: a ring wheel; at least two planet wheels, the at least two planet wheels including a shaft portion and a wheel portion that is rotatable about the shaft portion, the shaft portion having a longitudinal central axis, the longitudinal central axis also being the rotation axis of the wheel portion, each planet wheel being freely rotatable about a hinge axis that is oriented essentially perpendicularly with respect to a plane defined by the common central axis and the rotation axis of the wheel portion of the planet wheel; and a sun wheel. The ring wheel and the sun wheel are axisymmetric bodies positioned with respect to a common central symmetry axis. Interaction between the ring wheel, the at least two planet wheels, and the sun wheel takes place through a rolling motion.

A planetary variator applicable in a variable transmission for realizing a variable speed and torque ratio includes: a ring wheel; at least two planet wheels, the at least two planet wheels including a shaft portion and a wheel portion that is rotatable about the shaft portion, the shaft portion having a longitudinal central axis, the longitudinal central axis also being the rotation axis of the wheel portion, each planet wheel being freely rotatable about a hinge axis that is oriented essentially perpendicularly with respect to a plane defined by the common central axis and the rotation axis of the wheel portion of the planet wheel; and a sun wheel. The ring wheel and the sun wheel are axisymmetric bodies positioned with respect to a common central symmetry axis. Interaction between the ring wheel, the at least two planet wheels, and the sun wheel takes place through a rolling motion.

A linear gear shift power transfer mechanism includes a gear shift unit; a power input clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power input ring surface, first teardrop-shaped recesses and first radial positioning hole; a power output clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power output ring surface, second teardrop-shaped recesses and second radial positioning hole; a first ball ring element whose first positioning ring element has a first positioning portion and bulging ring element each provided with limiting slots; a power input rotator having a third teardrop-shaped recesses and first axial positioning hole; a power output rotator having fourth teardrop-shaped recesses and second axial positioning hole; helical resilient elements having radial and axial positioning posts and received in bulging ring elements, with the radial positioning posts disposed in first and second radial positioning holes through the limiting slots, the axial positioning posts disposed in first and second axial positioning holes.

A linear gear shift power transfer mechanism includes a gear shift unit; a power input clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power input ring surface, first teardrop-shaped recesses and first radial positioning hole; a power output clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power output ring surface, second teardrop-shaped recesses and second radial positioning hole; a first ball ring element whose first positioning ring element has a first positioning portion and bulging ring element each provided with limiting slots; a power input rotator having a third teardrop-shaped recesses and first axial positioning hole; a power output rotator having fourth teardrop-shaped recesses and second axial positioning hole; helical resilient elements having radial and axial positioning posts and received in bulging ring elements, with the radial positioning posts disposed in first and second radial positioning holes through the limiting slots, the axial positioning posts disposed in first and second axial positioning holes.

A system and method of controlling a continuously variable transmission with variator speed ratio (VSR) closed-loop feedback is provided. The method includes determining a desired VSR based on at least one of the driver and vehicle inputs, determining a motor position adjustment needed to adjust the position of a roller to achieve the desired VSR, driving the motor based on the determined motor position adjustment needed, sensing a transmission output speed as the motor is being driven, determining an actual VSR as the motor is being driven, and providing closed-loop feedback corresponding to any difference between the actual VSR and the desired VSR and driving the motor to eliminate the difference, thereby achieving the desired VSR.

A linear gear shift power transfer mechanism includes a gear shift unit; a power input clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power input ring surface, first teardrop-shaped recesses and first radial positioning hole; a power output clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power output ring surface, second teardrop-shaped recesses and second radial positioning hole; a first ball ring element whose first positioning ring element has a first positioning portion and bulging ring element each provided with limiting slots; a power input rotator having a third teardrop-shaped recesses and first axial positioning hole; a power output rotator having fourth teardrop-shaped recesses and second axial positioning hole; helical resilient elements having radial and axial positioning posts and received in bulging ring elements, with the radial positioning posts disposed in first and second radial positioning holes through the limiting slots, the axial positioning posts disposed in first and second axial positioning holes.

A linear gear shift power transfer mechanism includes a gear shift unit; a power input clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power input ring surface, first teardrop-shaped recesses and first radial positioning hole; a power output clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power output ring surface, second teardrop-shaped recesses and second radial positioning hole; a first ball ring element whose first positioning ring element has a first positioning portion and bulging ring element each provided with limiting slots; a power input rotator having a third teardrop-shaped recesses and first axial positioning hole; a power output rotator having fourth teardrop-shaped recesses and second axial positioning hole; helical resilient elements having radial and axial positioning posts and received in bulging ring elements, with the radial positioning posts disposed in first and second radial positioning holes through the limiting slots, the axial positioning posts disposed in first and second axial positioning holes.